Circuit Mom Presents: Drop Dead Drag Pageant | 10/16/2020

Circuit Mom’s Drop Dead Drag Pageant was held on October 16th at the Lakeshore Drive-In in Chicago, IL. Advertised as a ‘socially responsible event under the stars’, the Drop Dead Drag Pageant saw the likes of Jaida Essence Hall, Landon Cider, Detox, Miss Toto and more as they took the stage in hopes of being crowned the winner. Darby Lynn Cartwright, Aunty Chan, and Biqtch Puddin hosted the night, providing hilarious commentary and audience interactions between performances. Each contestant was tasked with providing the judges a talent, swimsuit, and off-stage interview for the chance to win a crown, scepter, and brand new Mazda. The show was a clear satire on the pageant system that is ever present in the American drag scene, and no queen spared any punches at exacerbating this fact.

Our first performance of the night was provided by the brilliantly electric The Vixen, star of RuPauls Drag Race Season 10. They performed a medley of songs, including their sensational single Tea Party (available on iTunes), a bouncy house track that encouraged the audience to get on their feet, in a socially distant way of course. They, as well as their backup dancers, were adorned in Queen of Hearts inspired looks, and their mesmerizing choreography was a magnificent start to the show.

Following The Vixen was Detox, runner up from RuPauls Drag Race Seasons 5 and All Stars 2. Taking the stage in a deconstructed Bride of Frankenstein look, Detox brought a slower but equally as exciting energy, performing the Sia song Alive. Bringing the crowd to uproarious applause Detox revealed from her outfit into what I might describe as a fashion mummy with great hair.

Next to the stage was Landon Cider, winner of The Boulet Brothers Dragula season 3. Seemingly stepping out from the gates of Hell, Landon provided the audience with a red hot medley of songs representing both camp and glamour with a hellish twist. Reminding the audience how truly flamboyant Satan is, Landon ended his performance by attaching a spinning guitar to his waist that sent sparks flying.

Our next talent was Chicago’s own Denali, who wowed the crowd with their effortless and high energy choreography. Performing a medley of Boss Bitch, Sour Candy, and How You Like That, Denali bounced around the stage with clear excitement from finally being able to perform in front of a live audience after months away due to Covid. Their energy was palpable and their performance remains one of the standouts of the night.

Pulling up in their very own Mazda was Miss Toto. Taking the stage in a spider-web dress with its own faux backpack size spider, even the arachnophobes in the audience couldn't help but stare in awe. Performing Ariana Grande’s Dangerous Woman, Miss Toto wowed the audience with their incredible stage presence and clever use of props.

Sheeza Woman was next up, compiling a massive mash-up of many songs and sounds, Sheeza took us on a first class ride to Mars in her Fifth Element inspired look. Throughout her talent portion Sheeza gave the audience a very layered performance, including her taking a moment to criticize the state of the world through the words of Greta Thunberg.

The last performance for the talent portion was that of RuPauls Drag Race Season 12 winner Jaida Essence Hall. Stepping out of her coffin and onto the stage, Jaida wowed the crowd in a Queen of the Damned inspired outfit, mesmerizing us with every step she took. It is stage presence like this that makes you say damn(ed).

Closing out Jaida’s performance, the audience was treated to an in-memoriam piece dedicated to honoring the memory of Chi Chi Devayne, Lady Red Couture, and the countless black lives taken by police brutality.

Before our winners were announced, Biqtch Puddin and Circuit Mom each performed their own unique number. Biqtch’s being a campy medley of songs involving various horror movie icons dumping her for each other, and Circuit Mom’s a classically brilliant performance of Madonna’s Vogue.

As we reached the end of our show it was time for each queen to stomp the runway in their own fashion, some of the standouts include: Landon Cider looking hotter than hell, Sheeza Woman serving Nickelodeon Gak realness, and Miss Toto wearing 10,000 stones across her pink and blue mesh bodysuit.

The judges announce the top four of the night were: Landon, Vixen, Denali, and Sheeza. And the winner is...no one! As Aunty Chan ran off the stage and into the Mazda holding the crown and scepter, but after such a great job hosting I can't say it was undeserved. Here’s to next year's pageant!

Images by Shelby Miller

Words by Seth Richardson

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